Barclays has said that it delivered third-quarter profits of £1.56 billion after another strong performance from its investment banking business.

The haul took profits for the first nine months of the year to £4.54 billion, down 19% on a year earlier.

Banking giant Barclays reported stronger underlying profits

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But Barclays said the result more than doubled on an underlying basis as it enjoyed “consistent profitability” so far in 2009.

Barclays said bonuses were accruing at a “broadly consistent” rate to prior years, but confirmed that decisions were yet to be taken on how much would be paid out to staff.

Banks have come under heavy fire amid concerns they are returning to their pre-crisis ways, which saw excessive bonus payouts blamed largely for contributing to the risk-taking that led to the financial meltdown.

But Barclays stressed it has signed up to international G20 rules on pay reforms which recommend clawback clauses and deferral over a number of years.

The bank is also talking to major investors over bonus pool levels ahead of its year-end decision.

“We will be fully compliant with the G20 rules in considering bonus amounts and we will be thinking of all our stakeholders – employees, shareholders and the broader community and we will be taking into account all of their views,” said the bank.

The third-quarter figures showed the bank is benefiting from a beefed-up Barclays Capital investment banking arm in the wake of its takeover of parts of bankrupt US rival Lehman Brothers.

However, Barclays reported £4.54 billion in profits for the first nine months of the year – down by nearly a fifth against a year earlier.